that ended his career, but the main topic, that attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi. and abc's jonathan karl has the drama today. >> reporter: this afternoon, the first glimpse of david petraeus since he resigned as cia director. earlier, behind closed doors on capitol hill, petraeus began by expressing regret for the affair that ended his career. other than that ten-second apology, the hearings focused entirely on the attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi, libya, that killed four americans. petraeus told the intelligence committee that he knew from the beginning that the attack was the work of terrorists, not protesters. >> he thought all along, he made it clear, that there was significant terrorist involvement. >> reporter: but that's not what the white house was saying, including u.s. ambassador to the u.n., susan rice, who went on television days after the attack, tying it to protests in egypt against an anti-muslim video. but petraeus also told lawmakers that by the time declassified talking points were given to the white house and congress, references to al qaeda were edited ou
